Shimano STX, Deore LX, XT & XTR

[1997BlackC5]

Hi just checking a well know auction site for XT & XTR upgrades for my Specialized Crossroads Comp commuter bike (I know circa 2004). But the question is relevant for pre 1997 bikes as well I think. How much of a difference does upgrading from say LX to XT or STX to XT make in the real world. Is it just easier to set up? Or less weight? Or smoother changes? Or possibly a little bit of brand snobery? More likely I guess a combination of any or all of these. Any light that can be thrown on this matter would be appreaciated, before I start wasting more cash on shinny new mechs.

 

[jimo746]

a little lighter, a little smoother, a little more robust, a bit of brand snobbery.
For me XT has always been as good as I will get, I can't see the point in forking out extra for XTR for little if any real world gains.
Depending on what age/era we're talking it could mean the difference between 7/8/9/10 speed though.
For a commuter bike I wouldn't go crazy, Deore or LX would stand up to the abuse and probably present less of a target to thieves tbh.

 

[silverclaws]

Bigger hole in your pocket the higher you go up and with that competition to get the parts as it seems everyone wants the more high end names.

As to whether they function better, well from a recent question I asked on here, light alloy wears worse than steel, so old high end stuff could be more erratic than a similar age low end stuff.

As to set up, they are all much the same and from recent experience I have found my mid nineties Alivio stuff to be slicker than the late 80's/early 90's XT stuff I had on my last bike so for me, when I upgrade, I won't be going far this time, as it is just not worth it regards performance, I am thinking STX-RC and that because of performance with good looks, and the groupo is new to me, something new to try.

Anyhow I plan to remove all decals so the tacky STX stickers don't matter.

 

[hamster]

Some bits are definitely better on the top-end stuff - ceramic jockey bearings for example. But the jockey teeth wear just the same.

However, some of the top stuff is worse - the eleborate alloy axles etc on the XT hubs are not as strong as older XT or current SLX/Deore.

Steel chainrings are heavy but last almost forever!

 

[FluffyChicken]

The problem you have is they all wear out and a good new STX-RC is far better than a used and worn XTR.

You'll even find worn XT that work better than worn XTR's not because they last longer but you just got luky on your purchase.

NOS then XTR is better* all round, old well you don't know what it'll be like.



*they're often nicer to setup and have a better finish (ignoring colours), seals and parts its made from and well they used to be stronger and last longer while working that little bit smoother and quicker. Somewhere along the retro router the high end became incompatible with the rest of the stuff (namely M95x chainsets )

 

[silverclaws]

Steel chainrings are heavy but last almost forever!

Yes I do agree, I have always had alloy chainrings, even the Pace rings with the so called crud extruder holes at the bottom of the teeth, but a combination of soil and water makes a lovely grinding paste for alloy, where a steel chain pummels alloy like a pestle and mortar ! Which is fine for racers who don't have to buy their chainrings, but for the rest of us, an expensive consumable, and in some cases a hard to find consumable.

But worn alloy rings will because of their weakness conform to a chain which has not been mated with it from the start, whereas steel could be a problem because of the strength and wear resilience of the material.

Bitd with new alloy rings or even putting on rings I had not used for a while, I used to go on an extremely muddy ride in an attempt to bed the chain to the rings, after which shifting was always sweeter, but it indicates just how fast these things wear. When washing, the grey stuff that I washed off after, was pulverised and ground chain ring, a similar stuff to that messes up the sidewalls of a tyre after rain, as rim braking is all about grinding the braking surface.

So I think regards the OP, the question should be for what purpose do you want to upgrade the bike, is it going to be a paddock queen, a road use only, or is one going to use the bike as it is meant to be used.

But to remember high end componentry makes a bike a potential target for thieves, as the dishonest also know their componentry well too, and they are on the look out all the time, how much do you want to worry about your bike when it is not with you.